Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-02-06

NhlhI 81 : AiNEs W Al
feitcd with greatness; you know the true
inwaTdness OF things, and every day you
pass men who, anywhere, save at the pc.
ltical capital, would be the talk of the
town. But the Washingtonians have be
come used to it, for here everybody, who
is anybody, has, or IS trying to, cut fig
ure IN politics. But we are not to moral
ize on Washington society," we are to write
Of the home lite of Morrison X. Waite.
A. l nave said, the personal appearance
of the Chief Justice is not very imposing;
but | do not mean 10 infer that it is the
reverse. He is of medium height, with a
figure as straight as an arrow despite
his age, and large, well poised head,
covered with hair almost as white as
snow. His face is thoughtful and
kindly. A rather large nose, respect
ably tinted; dark, keen, piercing eyes and
heavy chin and Jaw covered with thick,
well kept whiskers, make up an ensem-
Bile that instinCtiYely makes one father
the wish that the man was our friend.
When he puts on his long, silk robe and
with dignifed mien ascends the bench, he
is little different. His face loses lit
tie of its cherry expression; he looks dig
nited and wise, as BELTS his office, and
appears the very embodiment of the Just
Judge.
Before we go with him to his home,
suppose we lingeT while in the Supreme
court and get few facts about the public
life of the Chief Justice. Perhaps there
was no more surprised man in the
Union than Judge Waite in 1876, when
he was appointed to the highest place on
the Supreme bench. He WAS scarcely
known outside of his home in Toledo,
and had not been mentioned for the po-
sition. His appointment was q great
surprise, but no one had a word
to urge against him. No one seemed to
know anything about the gentleman, so
he was confirmed by the Senate without
any opposition and came to the capital to
live. Unlike most OF his predeCes-
sors he had his reputation to make after
he got to the top OF the ladder, and, per
maps, everyone now admits that he has
won name honestly and without Chi
canery. He does not advertise himself
before the public; he does not, as some
OF his predecessors haze done, try to use
his high position as s stepping-stone to
the presidency, but goes quietly along
doing LIS duty faithfully, attending 10
the business of the nation and making .
reputation that will compare favorGbly
with thSs Of Marshall, Chase aud fancy.
PerhspS, lie is not SIS great as were some
of these Gr5 the sge seems rather TO call
Cor useiCl tGsn for grest men.
Justice Wsite came from Q family OF
lawyers. over 200 years 2go his ances
tors settled iE Connecticut, Gnd even then
there were iGUyers amorg them. His
father was At enc time Chief Justice OF
his native state, and the family are very
prominent there. The present Judge
Waite was the youngest of eight children,
and was born at Lyme, Conn, little
over seventy years ago. He entered Yale
College at seventeen and graduated at
twenty-one in a class which numbered
among its members such men SIS William
NJ Ev&rts, Edwards Pierrepont. BENJAMIN
SlllimaE and many others who have since
become distinguished il every vocation of
life. LeGTing college he studied law with
his father, but before he was admitted to
the bar he got the western fever, which
was then raging, and emigrated to
Ohio, where he finished his studies
and commenced to practice, or rather he
hung out his shingle in Toledo, Ohio. !
After awhile he built up lucrative prsc-
tice and was known as one of the promi- !
nent citizens of the growing young town. |
He never held but one public Office be- |
fore he was made Chief-Justice. Ia lS+9 |
while he was still s comparatively young
man, he was elected to represent Toledo !
IN the Legislature. he didn't go 10 10
y; it wasn't his fault. He didn't Want
the office. He protested his unhtness.
But ne was only human; he did es every